Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-11
CHAPTER XVI.

AANl,
Entering his Own on the upper floor,
Henry placed the manuscript on the table
open at the first leaf. His nerves were IN
questionably shaken; his hand trembled as
he turned the pages: he started at chance
noises on the staircase Of the hotel.
The scenario, or outline, OF b ecountess'
play began with no formal PREDATORY
phrases. She presented herself and her
work with the easy familiarity OF an old
friend.
ALLOW me, dear Mr.. Francis Westwick,
to introduce to you the persons i'll my pro-
posed play. Behold them arranged sym
metrically in q line.
THE lord. The baron. The courier.
| The doctor. The countess.
II don't trouble myself, you see, to in
vent fictitious family names. Ny chsr9c-
ters are sufficiently distinguished by their
social titles, and by the striking contrast
which they present one with another.
THE first act opens
"No. Before l opel the irst act l must
announce, in justice 20 myself, that this
play is entirely the work o tmy own inYen-
ton. I scorn to borrow from actual events;
and, what is more extraordinary still, !
have not stolen IL Of my ideas from the
modern French drama. as the manager
of an English theatre, you will naturally
refuse to believe this It. doesn't matter.
Nothing matters-except the opening Of
10y first act.
ave are at Homburg, in the famous
Salon dor, ut the height of the season
The countess (exquisisely dresSed) is seated
at the green table. Strangers of ali nations
are standing behind the players ~Senturing
! their money, or only lookirgcu. Ny lO'd
is among the ~stranseIs. lie is struck by
the countess personal appearance, III
whiyi. beaUtieS and defects are Enthusiastically
| mingled in the most attractive manner.
He watches the countess glnc, ard placea
his money where he sees her deposit her
| own little stake. She lNcka round 1T him,
and says, Don't lrdst to my color; have
been urlucky the whole evening. Plny you
stake on the rOther color, AID ven nay
have n chance of winning NY lord Ia
true EagliahnaD) bushes, bows ard oheys.
The countess proves 4 true prophet. She
loses agHin. Ny lord wins twice the suul
that no has risked.
THE countess rises from the table. She
has no more money, AID she offers my lord
her chair.
"Instead of taking it, he politely places
his winnings in her hand, and beg' her to
accept the loan as a favor to himself. The
countess stakes again, and loses agaiu. My
lord smiles s%uperbly, and presses a second
loaC on her. From that moment her luck
turns She wins, and wins largely. Her
brother, the baron, trying his fortune in
another room, hears OF what is going on,
and Joins my lord and the countess.
Pay attention, if you please, 10 the
baron. He is delineated as a remarkable
and interesting character.
This noble person has begun life with
a single minded devotion TO the science OF
experimental chemistry, very surprising
in q vOrng and handsome man with a
brilliant future before him. A profound
knowledge of the occult sciences has per
shaded the baron that it IS possible to solve
the famous problem called the 'Philoso-
piers Stone Hisown pecuniary resources
have long since been exhausted by his
costly experiments. His sister has mex
supplied him with the small fortune al hSr
disposal; rsserving only the family Jewels,
placed in the charge of her banker and
friend at Frankfort. The countess fortune
also beirg swallowed up, the baron has in
o fatal moment sought for new supplies at
the gaming table. He prove, at starting
on his perilous career, to be a ~favorite OF
fortune; wins largely, and alas! profanes
his noble enthusiasm by yielding his soul
to the all debasing passion of the gamester.
At the period Of the play the baron's
good fortune has deserted him. He sees
his way to a browning experiment in the
fatal search after the of transmitting
lhe baser metals into gold. But how is he
to psy the preliminary expenses? Destiny,
like a hooking echo, answers Howl
will his sisters winnings with my
lords money prove large enough TO help
him? Eager Tor this result, he gives the
countess his ad vice how 10 play. From
thst disastrous moment the infection OF his
own adverse fortune spreads to his sister.
She loses again and sgain-ioses to the last
farthipg.
THE amiable and wealthy lord offers a
third losa, but the serupulous countess
positively refuses TO take il. On leaving
the table she presents her brother to my
lord. The gentlemen fall into pleasant
talk. My lord asks leave 10 pay his re-
! speets to the countess the next morning at
her hotel. The baron Hospitality invites
him to breakfast. Ny lord accepts, with a
last admiring glance at the countess which
does not escape her brothers observation,
and tskes his leave for the night.
| GEAlo.a 18th hss e,ako- Az ka-A- --u.f-
out plainly. Our affairs he says, are in
a desperate condition and We must find a
desperate remedy. Wait for me here while
l make inquiries about my lord. You have
evidently prodnced a strong impression on
| him. If we can turn that impression into
! money, 40 matter ct what sacrifice, the
thing must be done
"The countess now occupies the stage
alone and INDUCES in a soliloquy which
develops her character.
1T is at once q dangerous and attractive
character. Immense capacities for good
are implanted in her nature, side b. side
with equally remarkable capacities for evil
Ii rests with circumstances to develop
either the one or the other. Being a per
saa Yho produces a sensation wherever she
goes, this noble lady is naturally made the
subject Of all sorts of scandalous reports.
To one Of these reports-which falsely and
abOmiDably points to the baron as her
lover instead Of her brother-she now re-
fers with just indignation. She has Just
expressed her desire to leave Homburg, as
the place in which the vile calumny frst
took its rise, when the baron returns, over
hears her last words, and says to her, Yes.
lesye Homburg ny all means; provided
You leave it in the character of my lords
betrothed wife,
"The countess is startled and shocked.
She protests that she does not reciprocate
my lords admiration for her. She even